Leakage detection in flash memory cell

ABSTRACT

Leakage detection for cells in a flash memory device. According to one embodiment of the present invention a method includes reading a flash cell in a read cycle in a flash memory device to generate a read signal, generating several reference signals, comparing the read signal with each of the reference signals in the read cycle, generating a data signal based on the comparison to indicate data stored in the flash cell, and generating a refresh signal based on the comparison to request a refresh of the flash cell if the flash cell is leaky. According to another embodiment of the present invention a flash memory device includes a number of flash cells, a read circuit to generate a read signal in a read cycle of the flash memory device by reading a selected one of the flash cells, a reference circuit to generate a plurality of reference signals, and a comparing circuit to compare the read signal with each of the reference signals in the read cycle to generate a data signal indicating data stored in the selected flash cell and to generate a refresh signal if the selected flash cell is leaky.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/345,905 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,241 filed on Jul. 1, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to memory devices, and more particularly, to leakage detection in a flash memory device.

BACKGROUND

Electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory devices having arrays of what are known as flash cells, also called flash EEPROMs or flash memory devices, are found in a wide variety of electrical devices. A flash memory device is typically formed in an integrated circuit. A conventional flash cell, also called a floating gate transistor memory cell, is similar to a field effect transistor, having a channel region between a source and a drain in a substrate and a control gate over the channel region. In addition the flash cell has a floating gate between the control gate and the channel region. The floating gate is separated from the channel region by a layer of gate oxide, and an inter-poly dielectric layer separates the control gate from the floating gate. Both the control gate and the floating gate are formed of doped polysilicon. The floating gate is floating or electrically isolated. The flash memory device has a large number of flash cells in an array where the control gate of each flash cell is connected to a word line and the drain is connected to a bit line, the flash cells being arranged in a grid of word lines and bit lines.

A flash cell is programmed by applying approximately 10 volts to the control gate, between 5 and 7 volts to the drain, and grounding the source and the substrate to induce hot electron injection from the channel region to the floating gate through the gate oxide. The voltage at the control gate determines the amount of charge residing on the floating gate after programming. The charge affects current in the channel region by determining the voltage that must be applied to the control gate in order to allow the flash cell to conduct current between the source and the drain. This voltage is termed the threshold voltage of the flash cell, and is the physical form of the data stored in the flash cell. As the charge on the floating gate increases the threshold voltage increases.

One type of flash memory device includes an array of multi-bit or multi-state flash cells. Multi-state flash cells have the same structure as ordinary flash cells and are capable of storing multiple bits of data in a single cell. A multi-bit or multi-state flash cell has multiple distinct threshold voltage levels over a voltage range. Each distinct threshold voltage level corresponds to a set of data bits, with the number of bits representing the amount of data which can be stored in the multi-state flash cell.

Data is stored in conventional flash memory devices by programming flash cells that have been previously erased. A flash cell is erased by applying approximately −10 volts to the control gate, 5 volts to the source, grounding the substrate and allowing the drain to float. In an alternate method of erasure the control gate is grounded and 12 volts is applied to the source. The electrons in the floating gate are induced to pass through the gate oxide to the source by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling such that the charge in the floating gate is reduced and the threshold voltage of the flash cell is reduced. Flash cells in an array in a flash memory device are grouped into blocks, and the cells in each block are erased together.

A flash cell is read by applying approximately 5 volts to the control gate, approximately 1 volt to the drain, and grounding the source and the substrate. The flash cell is rendered conductive and current in the cell is sensed to determine data stored in the flash cell. The current is converted to a voltage that is compared with one or more reference voltages in a sense amplifier to determine the state of the flash cell. The current drawn by a flash cell being read depends on the amount of charge stored in the floating gate.

The capacity of flash memory devices to store data is gradually being increased by reducing the size and increasing the number of flash cells in each integrated circuit. The reduction in the size of the flash cells renders them more vulnerable to leakage. Leakage is an unwanted loss of charge from the floating gate of a flash cell and may occur for one of several reasons. Data retention may deteriorate as charge slowly drifts out of the floating gate over the 10 to 100 year operating life of the flash memory device. Environmental conditions in which the flash memory device operates, such as temperature, may influence the leakage. The leakage may also occur when the flash cell is disturbed in the following manner. When a flash cell is being programmed, erased, or read, its word line, or bit line, or both, may be coupled to a voltage that is elevated in either a positive or negative direction. Adjacent flash cells sharing the same word line or bit line will also receive the elevated voltage which can disturb voltage differentials between the control gates, drains, and sources of the adjacent flash cells. The disturbance may cause charge to leak from the floating gates of some of the adjacent flash cells. Depending on the array structure multiple cycles of programming or an erase of flash cells in a block could induce leakage in cells in different blocks in the array. If sufficient leakage occurs in a programmed flash cell over its lifetime it may gradually move to a state in which a read operation will indicate that it is erased. This is called a bit failure. As flash cells get smaller and more flash cells are placed in a given area of a silicon chip there is an increased tendency for a flash cell to be disturbed and to suffer leakage.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a method of identifying flash cells that are leaky.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned and other deficiencies are addressed in the following detailed description. According to one embodiment of the present invention a method includes reading a flash cell in a read cycle in a flash memory device to generate a read signal, generating a plurality of reference signals, comparing the read signal with each of the reference signals in the read cycle, generating a data signal based on the comparison to indicate data stored in the flash cell, and generating a refresh signal based on the comparison to request a refresh of the flash cell if the flash cell is leaky. According to another embodiment of the present invention a flash memory device includes a plurality of flash cells, a read circuit to generate a read signal in a read cycle of the flash memory device by reading a selected one of the flash cells, a reference circuit to generate a plurality of reference signals, and a comparing circuit to compare the read signal with each of the reference signals in the read cycle to generate a data signal indicating data stored in the selected flash cell and to generate a refresh signal if the selected flash cell is leaky.

Advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon an examination of the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a flash memory system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a block of flash cells in the memory system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for reading flash cells and for identifying leaky flash cells according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic diagram of a circuit for reading flash cells according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic diagram of a circuit for reading flash cells according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method for reading flash cells and for identifying leaky flash cells in two read cycles according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an integrated circuit chip according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is block diagram of a compact flash memory card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an information-handling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims.

In this description a flash cell is described as being activated or switched on when it is rendered conductive by a control gate voltage that exceeds its threshold voltage, and the flash cell is described as being in an inactive state or switched off when the control gate voltage is below the threshold voltage and the flash cell is non-conductive. A digital signal of 1 is also called a high signal and a digital signal of 0 is also called a low signal.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flash memory system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The memory system 100 includes a memory controller 105 and a flash memory integrated circuit (IC) 110. The controller 105 includes a control device such as a microprocessor to provide interface signals to the IC 110. The interface signals include address signals provided over multiple address lines 115 to an address buffer and latch 116, and data signals communicated over multiple data lines 117. The data lines 117 are coupled to an input buffer 118 which stores the data signals for transfer to an input data latch 119 over multiple internal data lines 120. Other interface signals provided by the controller 105 include a write enable signal WE* at node 121, a chip enable signal CE* at node 122, a reset/power-down signal RP* at node 123, an output enable signal OE* at node 124, and a write protect signal WP* at node 125, all of which are active low signals. The IC 110 provides a status signal RY/BY* to the controller 105 at node 128 to indicate the status of an internal state machine 130. The IC 110 also receives a positive power supply voltage V_(cc) at node 132, a write/erase supply or programming voltage V_(pp), at node 134, and a reference voltage such as a substrate ground voltage V_(ss) at node 136 which is approximately 0 Volts.

The IC 110 includes an array 138 of floating gate transistor memory cells or flash cells arranged in 32 flash cell blocks. Each block in the array 138 contains 64 kilobytes of flash cells. Flash cells in each block are erased as a group at the same time. A command execution logic module 140 receives the above-described interface signals from the controller 105. The module 140 controls the state machine 130 which controls individual acts necessary for programming, reading, and erasing the flash cells in the array 138. More specifically the state machine 130 controls detailed operations of the IC 110 such as providing write and block erase timing sequences to the array 138 through an X-interface circuit 145 and a Y-interface circuit 150.

The Y-interface circuit 150 provides access to individual flash cells through data lines in the array 138. Data lines in the Y-interface circuit 150 are connected to a bit line driver circuit (not shown). The Y-interface circuit 150 includes a Y-decoder circuit 152, Y-select gates 154, and sense amplifiers and write/erase bit compare and verify circuits 156. The X-interface circuit 145 provides access to rows of flash cells through word lines in the array 138, which are electrically coupled to the control gates of the flash cells in the array 138. The X-interface circuit 145 includes decoding and control circuits for erasing the blocks of flash cells in the array 138. The write/erase bit compare and verify circuits 156 are coupled to exchange data with the input data latch 119 over a set of internal data lines 158.

The IC 110 includes a charge pump circuit 160 to generate an elevated voltage Vpump for programming, erasing, or reading the flash cells in the array 138. The pump circuit 160 is coupled to receive the positive power supply voltage V_(cc) from the node 132 and provides the voltage Vpump to the X-interface circuit 145, the Y-decoder circuit 152, and the state machine 130 over a plurality of lines. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the pump circuit 160 may provide a different elevated voltage over each of the lines shown in FIG. 1. The state machine 130 controls an address counter 162 which is capable of providing a sequence of addresses on an internal set of address lines 164 coupled between the address buffer and latch 116, the X-interface circuit 145, and the Y-decoder circuit 152.

FIG. 2 is an electrical schematic diagram of a block 200 of flash cells 210A-210S in the array 138 according to the embodiments of the present invention. Some flash cells in the block 200 are omitted from FIG. 2 for purposes of clarity. The flash cells 210 are arranged in rows and columns. All of the flash cells 210 in a particular column have drains D connected to a common bit line BL and all of the flash cells 210 in a particular row have control gates connected to a common word line WL. The bit lines BL are identified as BL0-BLM and the word lines WL are identified as WL0-WLN. All of the flash cells 210 in the block 200 have sources S connected to a common source line SL. The remaining flash cells in the array 138 are arranged into separate blocks having separate source lines. The flash cells in different blocks are erased independently to reduce the required erase current.

The flash cells 210 are arranged in column pairs, with each flash cell 210 of the pair sharing a common source S. For example, a flash cell pair 210J and 210K have a common source S connected to the source line SL. The drains D of the flash cells 210 are connected to the bit line BL associated with the column in which the flash cells 210 are located. For example, the flash cell pair 210J and 210K have their drains D connected to a common bit line BL1.

A selected one of the flash cells 210A-210S in the block 200 is programmed according to the embodiments of the present invention by holding the source line SL to ground or zero volts, coupling approximately 5-7 volts to the bit line BL connected to the flash cell, and applying a high positive voltage programming pulse of approximately 10 volts to the word line WL of the flash cell. In this description when a programming pulse is described as being applied to a flash cell one skilled in the art will understand that the flash cell is being programmed according to the above-described method.

A selected one of the flash cells 210A-210S in the block 200 is read according to the embodiments of the present invention by holding the source line SL to ground, coupling approximately 1 volt to the bit line BL connected to the flash cell, applying approximately 5.4 volts to the word line WL of the flash cell, and sensing current in the flash cell through the bit line BL. The current is sensed by one of the sense amplifiers 156 that is coupled to the bit line BL. The sensed current is inversely related to the threshold voltage of the flash cell. The higher the threshold voltage, the less current is sensed in the flash cell, and visa versa.

The flash cells 210A-210S in the block 200 are erased according to the embodiments of the present invention by holding the word lines WL0-WLN to ground, allowing the bit lines BL0-BLM to float, and applying a high positive voltage erase pulse of approximately 12 volts to the sources S through the source line SL. Charge is removed from the floating gate of the flash cell when it is erased.

The term pulse is used in a broad sense in this description, referring to the application of a selected voltage level to a terminal for a finite time period. Those skilled in the art will understand that a single pulse such as an erase pulse may be applied continuously for the finite time period, or may include a series of shorter discrete pulses applied in sequence and having a summed or total time period equal to the finite time period.

In the embodiments of the present invention described herein a flash cell is deemed to be erased if it has a threshold voltage of less than approximately 3 volts. A flash cell is deemed to be programmed if it has a threshold voltage of greater than approximately 5 volts. A flash cell is read by applying 5.4 volts to its control gate to ensure that it is switched on. The amount of current in the channel region of the flash cell indicates its threshold voltage. A flash cell that is leaking charge from its floating gate, or has suffered unwanted charge loss or leakage, is a leaky flash cell. The leaky flash cell may be refreshed or repaired by a programming pulse, also called a refresh pulse, which adds charge to the floating gate. A repaired flash cell has the threshold voltage of a programmed flash cell. Only a programmed flash cell can be identified as being leaky. An erased flash cell will not be identified as being leaky because its threshold voltage will remain less than approximately 3 volts even if it is losing charge from its floating gate, and the data it is storing will not change.

A method 300 for reading flash cells and for identifying leaky flash cells in a read cycle according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. A flash cell is read in 310 by applying approximately 5.4 volts to its control gate and sensing a current in the flash cell. In 312 the sensed current is compared with a first reference current that would be in the flash cell if its threshold voltage were approximately 4 volts. If the sensed current is greater than the first reference current then the flash cell is identified as erased in 314, having a threshold voltage of less than 4 volts. If the sensed current is less than the first reference current then the flash cell has been programmed, having a threshold voltage of greater than 4 volts. The sensed current is then compared with a second reference current in 316 that would be in the flash cell if its threshold voltage were 4.5 volts. The threshold voltage is chosen to be 4.5 volts to indicate whether the floating gate has lost some charge while maintaining its programmed state. If the sensed current is greater than the second reference current, then the flash cell is identified as being leaky in 318 because its threshold voltage has fallen below 4.5 volts due to an unwanted loss of charge from the floating gate. A refresh pulse is requested for the flash cell in 320 to restore its threshold voltage. If the sensed current is less than the second reference current then the flash cell is identified as being programmed and not leaky in 322. The method 300 identifies leaky flash cells by testing a flash cell for leakage each time the flash cell is read in a read cycle. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize that other combinations of threshold voltages may be used as reference points for identifying leaky flash cells. The method 300 may be carried out in a single read cycle for a flash memory device such as the IC 110.

One problem encountered in determining whether a flash cell is leaky is that the state of the cell, programmed or erased, is not known prior to its being read. The flash cell may be programmed, it may be erased, it may have lost some charge to leakage but still remain programmed, or it may have been programmed and have leaked enough charge to enter an erased state. The method 300 identifies the leaky flash cells each time the flash cells are read so that flash cells that are leaking charge receive a refresh pulse before data is lost. The flash cells are read often enough to prevent data loss.

circuit 400 for reading flash cells and for identifying leaky flash cells at the same time in a read cycle according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. The circuit 400 is located in the IC 110, and may be in the sense amplifiers 156 shown in FIG. 1. Current I from a flash cell being read is received on a line 410 and is converted to a voltage signal, also called a read signal, by a current to voltage conversion circuit 412. The current to voltage conversion circuit 412 generates a low read signal if the current I is high, and a high read signal if the current I is low. The read signal is coupled to inverting inputs of a first sense amplifier 414 and a second sense amplifier 416. In this embodiment of the present invention the first and second sense amplifiers 414, 416 are comparators. A first reference current I₁ is generated in a first current source 420 to be approximately equal to current in the flash cell if it had a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts. In one embodiment of the present invention, I₁ is 30 microamps. I₁ is converted into a first reference signal by a second current to voltage conversion circuit 422 that is coupled to a non-inverting input of the first sense amplifier 414. A second reference current I₂ is generated in a second current source 424 to be approximately equal to current in the flash cell if it had a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts. In one embodiment of the present invention, I₂ is 20 microamps. I₂ is converted into a second reference signal by a third current to voltage conversion circuit 426 that is coupled to a non-inverting input of the second sense amplifier 416.

The read signal is compared with the first reference signal in the first sense amplifier 414 to generate a data signal at an output of the first sense amplifier 414. The data signal is inverted by a first inverter 430, and inverted again by a second inverter 432 to output a data signal to the IC 110 indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased. The read signal is compared with the second reference signal in the second sense amplifier 416 to determine whether the flash cell is leaky. An output of the second sense amplifier 416 is coupled to one input of a NAND gate 440, and a second input of the NAND gate 440 is connected to an output of the first inverter 430 such that the NAND gate 440 generates a signal at its output that is inverted by a third inverter 442 into a refresh signal indicating whether the flash cell is leaky and needs a refresh pulse. The operation of the circuit 400 may be further described with reference to Table 1:

TABLE 1 flash cell current I flash cell (microamps) condition data signal refresh signal I > I₁ erased 1 0 I₂ < I < I₁ low programmed 0 1 I < I₂ programmed 0 0

As shown in Table 1, the circuit 400 operates in the following manner. If I is greater than I₁, the threshold voltage of the flash cell is less than 4 volts, it is erased, and the data signal is high. The low inverted data signal is applied to the second input of the NAND gate 440 to ensure that the refresh signal is low and the flash cell does not receive a refresh pulse. When I is less than I₂, the threshold voltage of the flash cell is greater than 4.5 volts, it is programmed, and the data signal is low. The output of the second sense amplifier 416 is also low such that the refresh signal is low and the flash cell does not receive a refresh pulse. If I is between I₁ and I₂, the threshold voltage of the flash cell is between 4 and 4.5 volts and is therefore leaky. In other words, the flash cell has been programmed but has lost charge and its threshold voltage has dropped slightly. The data signal is low but the output of the second sense amplifier is high, so the NAND gate 440 receives two high inputs and generates a high refresh signal from the third inverter 442.

When the refresh signal is high a refresh pulse is applied to the flash cell to restore charge to the floating gate and preserve the data stored in the flash cell. An advantage of the circuit 400 is that the address of the flash cell is latched at the time it is read, and the same latched address is used to apply the refresh pulse to the flash cell. No time is spent re-accessing the flash cell for a refresh pulse.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the reference currents I₁ and I₂ will be selected depending on the particular characteristics of the flash cells and the desired reference points around which the flash cells are to be read and tested for leakage.

A circuit 500 for reading flash cells according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. The circuit 500 is located in the IC 110, and may be in the sense amplifiers 156 shown in FIG. 1. The circuit 500 is similar to the circuit 400 with the exception that there are more than two sense amplifiers and more than two reference currents. Current I from a flash cell is converted into a read signal by a primary current to voltage conversion circuit 510 and the read signal is coupled to inverting inputs of a plurality of sense amplifiers 512. Each of a plurality of reference currents I₁, I₂, I₃, I₄, and I₅ are converted into reference signals by a plurality of secondary current to voltage conversion circuits 514, and the reference signals are coupled respectively to non-inverting inputs of the sense amplifiers 512. In this embodiment of the invention the sense amplifiers 512 are comparators. The sense amplifiers 512 each generate a digital comparison signal indicating a relationship between the read signal and a respective one of the reference signals, and a logic circuit 520 is coupled to receive the comparison signals and to generate signals indicating whether the flash cell is programmed and whether it is leaky. The logic circuit 520 determines precisely the current I in the flash cell by comparing it with five reference currents. One skilled in the art will understand that more than five sense amplifiers 512 may be employed in the circuit 500 to compare the read signal with more than 5 reference signals. The circuit 500 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be used to read a multi-state flash cell storing data with more than one available threshold voltage. The circuit 500 according to the embodiment of the present invention may also be used to distinguish between degrees of leakage in a flash cell.

A method 600 for reading flash cells and for identifying leaky flash cells in two read cycles according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6. In 610 a row address and a column address are latched for a flash cell to be read. In 612 the flash cell is read in a first read cycle and in 614 current in the flash cell is converted into a read signal. Either before or during the time the flash cell is read a first reference signal is selected in 616. The read signal is compared with the first reference signal in 618 to generate read data indicating data stored in the flash cell, and the read data is stored in 620. As an example, the first reference signal may be derived from a current that would be in the flash cell if its threshold voltage were 4 volts, as described above with reference to the circuit 400 shown in FIG. 4. In 630 the flash cell is read again in a second read cycle and in 632 current in the flash cell is converted into a read signal. Either before or during the time the flash cell is read a second reference signal is selected in 634. The read signal is compared with the second reference signal in 636 to generate test data indicating data stored in the flash cell. The read data is then compared with the test data in 640 and if the two are not equal then the flash cell is identified as leaky in 642 and the read data is transmitted in 644. If the read data is equivalent to the test data then the read data is transmitted directly in 644. The second reference signal is selected to determine if the threshold voltage of the flash cell has fallen below 5 volts. As an example, the second reference signal may be derived from a current that would be in the flash cell if its threshold voltage were 4.5 volts. The method 600 may be implemented with a single sense amplifier to carry out the comparisons in 618 and 636.

The methods 300 or 600 may be implemented as a series of programmable instructions stored and implemented in the controller 105. The first and second reference signals may be generated by a programmable voltage generator such as the pump circuit 160 in the IC 110. The methods 300 or 600 may also be implemented in the state machine 130. The state machine 130 is a sequential logic circuit including both logic gates and storage elements designed to implement algorithms directly in hardware. The state machine 130 may include logic gates and storage elements to carry out each act of the methods 300 or 600. Other portions of the IC 110 may also be used to implement the methods 300 or 600. For example, the pump circuit 160 may be used to provide the first and second reference signals and any voltages needed to read the flash cell. The flash cell may be read by a sense amplifier in the sense amplifiers 156, and the read data may be stored in the input data latch 119. The methods 300 or 600 may be implemented in other ways known to those skilled in the art.

An integrated circuit chip 700 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7. The chip 700 includes an embedded flash memory 710 such as the flash memory integrated circuit 110, and may include either the circuit 400, the circuit 500, or it may implement the methods 300 or 600 according to the embodiments of the present invention described above. The embedded flash memory 710 shares the chip 700 with another integrated circuit 720 such as a processor, or possibly several other integrated circuits. The embedded flash memory 710 and the integrated circuit 720 are coupled together by a suitable communication line or bus 730.

One skilled in the art will understand that more than one flash memory integrated circuit 110 according to the embodiments of the invention described above may be included in various package configurations. For example, a compact flash memory card 800 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 8. The card 800 includes a plurality of flash memory integrated circuits 810(1)-810(X) each of which are similar to the flash memory integrated circuit 110 shown in FIG. 1. The card 800 may be a single integrated circuit in which the flash memory integrated circuits 810(1)-810(X) are embedded.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an information-handling system 900 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information-handling system 900 includes a memory system 908, a processor 910, a display unit 920, and an input/output (I/O) subsystem 930. The processor 910 may be, for example, a microprocessor. The memory system 908 is comprised of the flash memory integrated circuit 110, and may include either the circuit 400, the circuit 500, or it may implement the methods 300 or 600 according to the embodiments of the present invention described above. The processor 910 and the memory system 908 may be embedded on a single integrated circuit chip such as the chip 700 shown in FIG. 7. The processor 910, the display unit 920, the I/O subsystem 930, and the memory system 908 are coupled together by a suitable communication line or bus 940. In various embodiments, the information-handling system 900 is a computer system (such as, for example, a video game, a hand-held calculator, a television set-top box, a fixed-screen telephone, a smart mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a network computer (NC), a hand-held computer, a personal computer, or a multiprocessor supercomputer), an information appliance (such as, for example, a cellular telephone, a pager, or a daily planner or organizer), an information component (such as, for example, a magnetic disk drive or telecommunications modem), or other appliance (such as, for example, a hearing aid, washing machine or microwave oven having an electronic controller).

In the embodiments of the present invention described above a flash cell in a flash memory device is read in a read cycle to generate a read signal, a plurality of reference signals are generated, and the read signal is compared with each of the reference signals in the read cycle to indicate data stored in the flash cell and to request a refresh of the flash cell if the flash cell is leaky. The embodiments of the present invention described above identify leaky flash cells each time the flash cells are read so that flash cells that are leaking charge receive a refresh pulse before data is lost.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this description that any equivalent arrangement may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. The present invention is therefore limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: sensing a read current in a flash cell in a flash memory device; comparing the read current with a high reference current; comparing the read current with a low reference current; and initiating an operation on the flash cell if the read current is between the low reference current and the high reference current.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein: sensing a read current further comprises applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell and sensing the read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; comparing the read current with a high reference current further comprises: converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; converting the high reference current into a low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; comparing the read current with a low reference current further comprises: converting the low reference current into a high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator to generate a refresh signal; initiating an operation further comprises identifying the flash cell as being programmed and leaky and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; and further comprising: identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read current is greater than the high reference current; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read current is less than the low reference current; generating the high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; and generating the low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts.
 3. A method comprising: reading a flash cell in a flash memory device to generate a read signal; comparing the read signal with a low signal; comparing the read signal with a high signal; and initiating an operation on the flash cell if the read signal is between the low signal and the high signal.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein: reading a flash cell further comprises sensing a read current in a flash cell in a flash memory device and converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; sensing a read current further comprises applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell and sensing the read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; comparing the read signal with a low signal further comprises comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; comparing the read signal with the high signal further comprises comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator to generate a refresh signal; initiating an operation further comprises identifying the flash cell as being programmed and leaky and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; and further comprising: identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read signal is less than the low signal; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read signal is greater than the high signal; generating the low signal comprising: generating a high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; and converting the high reference current into the low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; and generating the high signal comprising: generating a low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts; and converting the low reference current into the high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit.
 5. A method comprising: sensing a read current in a flash cell in a flash memory device; comparing the read current with a high reference current; comparing the read current with a low reference current; identifying data stored in the flash cell based on the comparisons; and initiating an operation on the flash cell if the read current is between the low reference current and the high reference current.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein: sensing a read current further comprises applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell and sensing the read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; comparing the read current with a high reference current further comprises: converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; converting the high reference current into a low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; comparing the read current with a low reference current further comprises: converting the low reference current into a high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator to generate a refresh signal; initiating an operation further comprises identifying the flash cell as being leaky and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; and identifying data further comprises: identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read current is greater than the high reference current; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read current is less than the low reference current or is between the low reference current and the high reference current; and further comprising: generating the high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; and generating the low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts.
 7. A method comprising: reading a flash cell in a flash memory device to generate a read signal; comparing the read signal with a low signal; comparing the read signal with a high signal; identifying data stored in the flash cell based on the comparisons; and initiating an operation on the flash cell if the read signal is between the low signal and the high signal.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein: reading a flash cell further comprises sensing a read current in a flash cell in a flash memory device and converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; sensing a read current further comprises applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell and sensing the read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; comparing the read signal with a low signal further comprises comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; comparing the read signal with the high signal further comprises comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator to generate a refresh signal; initiating an operation further comprises identifying the flash cell as being leaky and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; identifying data further comprises: identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read signal is less than the low signal; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read signal is greater than the high signal or is between the low signal and the high signal; and further comprising: generating the low signal comprising: generating a high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; and converting the high reference current into the low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; generating the high signal comprising: generating a low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts; and converting the low reference current into the high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit.
 9. A method of operating a system comprising: exchanging signals between a memory controller and a flash memory device; sensing a read current in a flash cell in the flash memory device; comparing the read current with a high reference current; comparing the read current with a low reference current; and initiating an operation on the flash cell if the read current is between the low reference current and the high reference current.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein exchanging signals further comprises exchanging signals between a processor or a microprocessor and a flash memory device embedded in a single integrated circuit chip.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein: exchanging signals further comprises exchanging address signals, data signals, a chip enable signal, a write enable signal, a reset/power-down signal, an output enable signal, a write protect signal, and a status signal between a processor and a flash memory device over a bus; sensing a read current further comprises applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell and sensing the read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; comparing the read current with a high reference current further comprises: converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; converting the high reference current into a low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; comparing the read current with a low reference current further comprises: converting the low reference current into a high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator to generate a refresh signal; initiating an operation further comprises identifying the flash cell as being programmed and leaky and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; and further comprising: identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read current is greater than the high reference current; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read current is less than the low reference current; generating the high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; generating the low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts; and exchanging signals between the processor, the flash memory device, a display unit, and an input/output subsystem over the bus.
 12. A method of operating a system comprising: exchanging signals between a memory controller and a flash memory device; reading a flash cell in the flash memory device to generate a read signal; comparing the read signal with a low signal; comparing the read signal with a high signal; and initiating an operation on the flash cell if the read signal is between the low signal and the high signal.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein exchanging signals further comprises exchanging signals between a processor or a microprocessor and a flash memory device embedded in a single integrated circuit chip.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein: exchanging signals further comprises exchanging address signals, data signals, a chip enable signal, a write enable signal, a reset/power-down signal, an output enable signal, a write protect signal, and a status signal between a processor and a flash memory device over a bus; reading a flash cell further comprises sensing a read current in a flash cell in a flash memory device and converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; sensing a read current further comprises applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell and sensing the read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; comparing the read signal with a low signal further comprises comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; comparing the read signal with the high signal further comprises comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator to generate a refresh signal; initiating an operation further comprises identifying the flash cell as being programmed and leaky and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; and further comprising: identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read signal is less than the low signal; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read signal is greater than the high signal; generating the low signal comprising: generating a high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; and converting the high reference current into the low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; generating the high signal comprising: generating a low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts; and converting the low reference current into the high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit; and exchanging signals between the processor, the flash memory device, a display unit, and an input/output subsystem over the bus.
 15. A method of operating a system comprising: exchanging signals between a memory controller and a flash memory device; sensing a read current in a flash cell in the flash memory device; comparing the read current with a high reference current; comparing the read current with a low reference current; identifying data stored in the flash cell based on the comparisons; and initiating an operation on the flash cell if the read current is between the low reference current and the high reference current.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein exchanging signals further comprises exchanging signals between a processor or a microprocessor and a flash memory device embedded in a single integrated circuit chip.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein: exchanging signals further comprises exchanging address signals, data signals, a chip enable signal, a write enable signal, a reset/power-down signal, an output enable signal, a write protect signal, and a status signal between a processor and a flash memory device over a bus; sensing a read current further comprises applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell and sensing the read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; comparing the read current with a high reference current further comprises: converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; converting the high reference current into a low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; comparing the read current with a low reference current further comprises: converting the low reference current into a high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator to generate a refresh signal; initiating an operation further comprises identifying the flash cell as being leaky and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; and identifying data further comprises: identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read current is greater than the high reference current; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read current is less than the low reference current or is between the low reference current and the high reference current; and further comprising: generating the high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; generating the low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts; and exchanging signals between the processor, the flash memory device, a display unit, and an input/output subsystem over the bus.
 18. A method of operating a system comprising: exchanging signals between a memory controller and a flash memory device; reading a flash cell in the flash memory device to generate a read signal; comparing the read signal with a low signal; comparing the read signal with a high signal; identifying data stored in the flash cell based on the comparisons; and initiating an operation on the flash cell if the read signal is between the low signal and the high signal.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein exchanging signals further comprises exchanging signals between a processor or a microprocessor and a flash memory device embedded in a single integrated circuit chip.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein: exchanging signals further comprises exchanging address signals, data signals, a chip enable signal, a write enable signal, a reset/power-down signal, an output enable signal, a write protect signal, and a status signal between a processor and a flash memory device over a bus; reading a flash cell further comprises sensing a read current in a flash cell in a flash memory device and converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; sensing a read current further comprises applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell and sensing the read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; comparing the read signal with a low signal further comprises comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; comparing the read signal with the high signal further comprises comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator to generate a refresh signal; initiating an operation further comprises identifying the flash cell as being leaky and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; identifying data further comprises: identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read signal is less than the low signal; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read signal is greater than the high signal or is between the low signal and the high signal; and further comprising: generating the low signal comprising: generating a high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; and converting the high reference current into the low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; generating the high signal comprising: generating a low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts; and converting the low reference current into the high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit; and exchanging signals between the processor, the flash memory device, a display unit, and an input/output subsystem over the bus.
 21. A method of operating a system comprising: exchanging signals between a memory controller and a flash memory device; reading a flash cell in a read cycle in the flash memory device to generate a read signal; comparing the read signal with a first reference signal in the read cycle to indicate data stored in the flash cell; and comparing the read signal with a second reference signal in the read cycle to indicate if the flash cell is leaky.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein exchanging signals further comprises exchanging signals between a processor or a microprocessor and a flash memory device embedded in a single integrated circuit chip.
 23. The method of claim 21 wherein: exchanging signals further comprises exchanging address signals, data signals, a chip enable signal, a write enable signal, a reset/power-down signal, an output enable signal, a write protect signal, and a status signal between a processor and a flash memory device over a bus; reading a flash cell further comprises: applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell in a read cycle and sensing a read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; and converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; comparing the read signal with a first reference signal further comprises: generating a high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; converting the high reference current into a low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; comparing the read signal with a second reference signal further comprises: generating a low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts; converting the low reference current into a high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit; and comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator to generate a refresh signal; indicating the flash cell as being programmed and leaky if the read signal is between the high signal and the low signal and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; and further comprising: identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read signal is less than the low signal; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read signal is greater than the high signal; and exchanging signals between the processor, the flash memory device, a display unit, and an input/output subsystem over the bus.
 24. A method of operating a system comprising: exchanging signals between a memory controller and a flash memory device; reading a flash cell in a read cycle in the flash memory device to generate a read signal; generating a plurality of reference signals; comparing the read signal with each of the reference signals in the read cycle; generating a data signal based on the comparison to indicate data stored in the flash cell; and generating a refresh signal based on the comparison to request a refresh of the flash cell if the flash cell is leaky.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein exchanging signals further comprises exchanging signals between a processor or a microprocessor and a flash memory device embedded in a single integrated circuit chip.
 26. The method of claim 24 wherein: exchanging signals further comprises exchanging address signals, data signals, a chip enable signal, a write enable signal, a reset/power-down signal, an output enable signal, a write protect signal, and a status signal between a processor and a flash memory device over a bus; reading a flash cell further comprises: applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell in a read cycle and sensing a read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; and converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; generating a plurality of reference signals further comprises: generating a plurality of different reference currents; and converting each reference current into a reference signal in a current to voltage conversion circuit; comparing the read signal with each of the reference signals further comprises comparing the read signal with each reference signal in a comparator to generate a comparison signal for each reference signal; generating a data signal further comprises generating a data signal in a logic circuit coupled to receive the comparison signals to indicate a threshold voltage of the flash cell; generating a refresh signal further comprises: generating a refresh signal in the logic circuit coupled to receive the comparison signals to indicate if the flash cell is leaky; and applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell if the flash cell is leaky; and further comprising exchanging signals between the processor, the flash memory device, a display unit, and an input/output subsystem over the bus.
 27. A method of operating a system comprising: exchanging signals between a memory controller and a flash memory device; reading a flash cell in a read cycle in the flash memory device to generate a read signal; comparing the read signal with a first reference signal in a first sense amplifier to indicate data stored in the flash cell; comparing the read signal with a second reference signal in a second sense amplifier to indicate if the flash cell is leaky; and generating a refresh signal requesting a refresh operation for the flash cell if the flash cell is indicated as leaky.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein exchanging signals further comprises exchanging signals between a processor or a microprocessor and a flash memory device embedded in a single integrated circuit chip.
 29. The method of claim 27 wherein: exchanging signals further comprises exchanging address signals, data signals, a chip enable signal, a write enable signal, a reset/power-down signal, an output enable signal, a write protect signal, and a status signal between a processor and a flash memory device over a bus; reading a flash cell further comprises: applying approximately 5.4 volts to a word line of the flash cell in a read cycle and sensing a read current in the flash cell with a sense amplifier; and converting the read current to a read signal in a first current to voltage conversion circuit; comparing the read signal with a first reference signal further comprises: generating a high reference current in a first current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.0 volts; converting the high reference current into a low signal in a second current to voltage conversion circuit; comparing the read signal with the low signal in a first comparator to generate a data signal indicating whether the flash cell is programmed or erased; and identifying the flash cell as being erased if the read signal is less than the low signal; comparing the read signal with a second reference signal further comprises: generating a low reference current in a second current source to be approximately equal to current in a flash cell with a threshold voltage of 4.5 volts; converting the low reference current into a high signal in a third current to voltage conversion circuit; comparing the read signal with the high signal in a second comparator; identifying the flash cell as being programmed if the read signal is greater than the high signal; and identifying that the flash cell is programmed and leaky if the read signal is between the high signal and the low signal; generating a refresh signal further comprises applying a refresh pulse to the flash cell to add charge to a floating gate of the flash cell; and further comprising exchanging signals between the processor, the flash memory device, a display unit, and an input/output subsystem over the bus. 